Lu Ren only glanced briefly at the options provided by the system.
He definitely had to save the person!
But... he wanted all the rewards!
So... the question was... how could Lu Ren get all the rewards?
The young man, lost in thought, looked at the scenery outside the window.
A moth that hit a streetlight and fell precariously caught his attention.
The scorching heat emitted by the streetlight burned the moth's delicate antennae and wings.
The moth, fallen to the ground, didn't move for a long time, only lying there waiting to die.
This was just an unremarkable scene during the car's journey... but it gave the young man a terrifying idea... "What if..."
"I cut that Yokai into an immobile state."
"And ensure it doesn't die, making it willingly give up."
"Could I exploit this loophole to get all the rewards?"
Lu Ren thought quietly.
His slightly upturned lips were innocent and harmless.
He believed it was very necessary for him to try!
Even if he failed... he would still get a guaranteed reward, so there was no way he would lose out.
At this moment... a certain Yokai, hiding in the shadows, was still smug about its cunning.
Yet, it didn't notice at all... that someone more terrifying than the God of Death, more cruel than a demon, had already set its sights on it!
...Time passed unknowingly...
Hiratsuka Shizuka's sports car drove into the underground parking lot.
The place where she lived was a high-end apartment.
Before getting out of the car... a tired-looking Hiratsuka Shizuka seemed to remember something.
"Uh..."
"I... I've always lived alone..."
"So... the house is a little messy..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka's cheeks flushed, and her voice was a bit hesitant.
As an adult, facing the gaze of a mere teenager, she guiltily shifted her eyes.
Having lived alone for so long, it was impossible for her to have everything in order.
Before Lu Ren moved in, she needed to tidy up the room!
"Oh, right! Classmate Lu!"
"You don't have toiletries yet, do you? There's a convenience store near the apartment!"
"This money... should be enough, right?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka took out five 10,000-yen bills from her wallet, as if trying to bribe Lu Ren.
If Lu Ren saw the messy apartment, her career as a teacher would probably be over.
"No need."
Lu Ren shook his head, refusing outright.
With the help of the system, he already had free food and lodging.
If he accepted this money, even he would feel embarrassed!
The car door opened.
Lu Ren was the first to get out, stretching lazily.
"I'll go buy some daily necessities first."
"If anything happens, contact me on my phone."
Lu Ren waved his phone perfunctorily and walked towards the elevator.
To avoid embarrassing Hiratsuka Shizuka, he would try to stall for as much time as possible.
And... solve the hunger problem...
Hiratsuka Shizuka, sitting in the car, watched Lu Ren's departing back and breathed a sigh of relief.
Eager to go home and clean, she quickly opened the car door and got out of the sports car.
But!
A bone-chilling cold made her body tremble!
The gaze from behind made her scalp tingle even more!
Through the reflection in the rearview mirror... a woman with long black hair, dressed in white, and barefoot!
She was standing right behind Hiratsuka Shizuka, the distance between them less than half a meter!
Moreover!
The woman's head was almost pressed against Hiratsuka Shizuka's left ear!
"Giggle... click-clack..."
The woman made a sound like grinding teeth, as if conveying some message.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's face was pale; she had already realized that she had attracted something dirty!
Despite this... she said nothing, choosing to ignore it... Even though her trembling body felt heavy as if filled with lead.
But with strong psychological endurance, she still left!
Fortunately... the Yokai resembling a woman did not follow... It still stood in front of the car, making strange noises...
On the street... Lu Ren sat on a roadside bench, comfortably closing his eyes to rest.
Grumble—!
His stomach, which hadn't eaten for a long time, rumbled again in protest.
Lu Ren didn't pay attention, but a blue-haired girl passing by suddenly stopped.
She raised her delicate finger and gently poked Lu Ren's shoulder.
"Hmm?"
Lu Ren groggily opened his eyes, looking at the girl behind him in confusion.
She had shoulder-length hair, and her deep blue color was very distinctive.
The girl's face was expressionless, giving off a sense of aloofness and indifference.
Until... she somewhat reluctantly stuffed all the wild vegetables in her hand into Lu Ren's arms.
The wild vegetables had water droplets on them, clearly having been washed.
Just as Lu Ren was bewildered, guessing her intentions, the blue-haired girl actually picked up a wild vegetable and boldly put it into her mouth!
"Mmm!"
She chewed while giving a thumbs-up.
She intended to tell Lu Ren this way: This is edible!
Then... under Lu Ren's astonished gaze... the girl, having accomplished her deed, walked away with an air of aloofness and grace...
"What the heck..."
"I was actually given charity by [her]?!".
Lu Ren looked at the wild vegetables in his arms, complaining with a black line on his forehead.
He knew that girl.
To be precise, she, like Miko, was an important character from a certain anime!
However... the other party had already walked away, and Lu Ren didn't chase after her.
Instead, he examined the wild vegetables in his arms.
"What fresh and tender shepherd's purse..."
"If I mince some meat and wrap them into dumplings, they must be delicious."
Lu Ren exclaimed with a look of longing.
He didn't notice at all that a space rift had quietly opened behind him.
"Young man, wandering around so late..."
"Could it be... you can't find your way home?"
Yakumo Yukari's teasing question carried a hint of playful banter.
"Yes, I'm lost..."
"Maybe I'll never go back in this life..."
Lu Ren sighed self-deprecatingly.
This sixteen-year-old boy exuded a strong sense of sadness.
Yakumo Yukari's smile stiffened; she realized she had inadvertently said the wrong thing.
"Do you... have any trouble?"
Yakumo Yukari changed the subject, intending to use her abilities to heal the young man's inner pain...
Yakumo Yukari's concern seemed to have a magical power!
The previously sad young man's expression immediately reversed!
"Yes."
"Lend me some money."
Lu Ren said very directly and extended his hand to Yakumo Yukari.
He was currently penniless and in need of assistance!
"Ten thousand, is that enough?"
Yakumo Yukari raised her finger, opening a space rift.
She took out ten 10,000-yen bills from inside, asking Lu Ren with concern.
"Where did you get these?"
Lu Ren took the ten bills, carefully examining them one by one.
Real money! They were all real!
Under Lu Ren's persistent questioning, Yakumo Yukari chuckled and opened her folding fan.
After covering her upturned lips, she casually revealed the truth.
"I have a Miko friend, and she recently made a small fortune..."